10-Cent Pears (U.S. 2016)

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Added January 17, 2019:
A 3,000-stamp coil was added, effective January 27th. It is item 750300.

Updated February 17, 2017: The 2017 sheet version has been split off into its own page.

Updated January 5, 2017: The USPS says a version or versions of this stamp will be issued March 23rd in Cleveland at the Garfield-Perry March Party stamp show. There is no word on the format or formats. Further updates for the 2017 version are here.

From 2016:

Updated March 7th: The Scott Catalogue number for this issue is 5039; the imperforate single is 5039a.

Updated January 21st: From the Postal Bulletin:
s_pearsOn January 17, 2016, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service® issued the 10-cent Pears stamp, in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 799300).

The stamp went on sale nationwide January 17, 2016.

Pears, a new 10-cent definitive stamp, features two red pears on a white background. The stamp art is an existing illustration by John Burgoyne, who created the original artwork with pen and ink and watercolor. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Pears Stamp
Special Events
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by March 17, 2016.

Technical Specifications:

s_pearsIssue: Pears
Item Number: 799300
Denomination & Type of Issue: 10-cent Denominated
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 17, 2016, Washington, DC 20066
Art Director: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Designer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Typographer: Derry Noyes, Washington, DC
Existing Art: John Burgoyne, West Barnstable, MA
Modeler: Michelle Finn/Sandra Lane
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 200,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS Warm Gray4, PMS 7619 Red
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.54 x 21.34 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.10 x 24.89 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “S” followed by six (6) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate numbers every 27th stamp below stamp image

Updated January 15th: This stamp will be issued January 17th, still with a Washington postmark and still without a ceremony.

From the USPS:

s_pearsPears 10-Cent (1 design)
FDOI: January in Washington, DC (no ceremony)
Format: Information to come.
In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue a new ten-cent definitive stamp featuring two red pears on a white background.

Art Director: Derry Noyes
Illustrator: John Burgoyne. Burgoyne used pen and ink and watercolor to produce the original art.

22 thoughts on “10-Cent Pears (U.S. 2016)”

  1. Since January 17 is a Sunday, I suppose they are only really available on Jan 18th. I am surprised they haven’t appeared in the USPS online shop yet.

      • Thanks for that reminder – I had forgotten that there is a post office in my area that is open Sundays.

        • The Post Office at Portland International Airport (PDX) is open Sundays, though mostly for Express Mail.

          • Of course, the format is Coils of 10,000. If you want to buy a full roll… (USPS Item 7993xx)

          • There’s also a cil of 500, so a bit cheaper. Hopefully they’ll make them available in smaller strips.

          • Well, I spoke with the folks at (800)STAMP24.
            There Will be a 4-Bar First Day Cover # 799316 costing $1.03. My guess is this is a strip of 5 (50c) to cover 1st class mail.
            While speaking with the folks at USPS, I asked about a ‘strip of 25’, usually item xxxx03 for coils. They had nothing on this. So, if you don’t want 500 of these, a FDC will be the cheap route.
            I tend to dought either Maurice in CT or ‘Big Al’ in MN will get a coil to break and sell…

  2. Not sure I need 500 of them!
    I was wondering what use these stamps have that they are being issued in large coils?

    • See my post on JAN 19 and get a First-Day Cancellation for $1.03.
      This item is yet to be placed on USPS.COM, you MUST call (800)STAMP24, Talk to a Real Person, and ask for USPS item 799316. There is a $1.30 Service Fee for orders up to $50.00.

      ( I am a Relay Station. I did not set the policies or the prices. Trying to Shoot the Messenger will get you audited my the IRS. )

  3. Is anyone planning to do cachets for this issue and have extra stamps to sell? I would be grateful if I could get 50 – 100 stamps if someone buys a coil of 500 and would like to sell them?

    • I don’t know, but if we managed to get a couple other people involved, I’m interested in possibly buying maybe 300, so if you took 100 we could find someone for the other 100 and have a coil.

    • I have a new strip of 5 US 10 cent pear stamps with serial number B111111. Does anyone know how I can get more info on these stamps? Thank you

      • What you have there is a Plate Number Coil. These happen every so many stamps. They offer an opportunity for a special type of stamp collecting. You can find more about PNCs at https://www.pnc3.org.

    • Well, the USPS only has a minimum quantity of 10,000 (ugh) at https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=push&navCount=0&atg.multisite.remap=false&categoryId=buy-stamps&productId=S_799304

      But VSC member Lefty Dundee recommends a Connecticut postmaster for smaller quantities of these coils. In another discussion (similar problem), Lefty said:

      “Write to Maurice Bessette, Postmaster 1104 Plainfiend Pike Oneco CT 06373. He will sell you as many as you like. Coil plate number every 27 stamps. I have ordered 30. (He sold me 30 of the Grapes and Apples, off of the 10K coils) He Does Not do Internet Website Purchases, or credit cards. Mail him your order with a check payablle to Postmaster. ( Old School )”

    • As Lloyd has already said, via the Postmaster, Maurice Bessette 1104 Plainfield Pike, ONECO CT 06373. He Does NOT DO Online Orders. Send him a POSTCARD with inquiries, or send an ORDER with a Check or Money Order for Payment. ( Old School ) He will sell you as many as you would like to buy. ( Usually strips of 30, as the plate number is every 27 or so. )

  6. After Speak with an Agent at The Caves in KC MO, The Stamp Subscription Program, where you Pre-Order stamps, will allow you to specify how many stamps you want for each issue. This is a pre-Paid program, and you set your specifications, and send in your money, In Advance. So, if you want strips of 30 from coils, that is one of the specifications you can set up for Future Issues.

    • I Spoke with the Folks at The Stamp Shop at the post office in Minneapolis MN. They no longer receive the Large Coils ( 3K and 10K ) for ‘Splitting’. The Caves only has ‘Sub-Coils’ of 500, so ONECO CT.

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